Last Week Today: dating, a16z, japan travel, & more
August 26, 2024 ❤️
“It's better to live your own destiny imperfectly than to live an imitation of somebody else's life with perfection”
I’ve had this quote on my notes app since 2018 and I just learned that it’s from the Gita as I was writing this newsletter post. Whenever I find a quote I like, I add it to my notes app :)
Welcome to my Substack where I share the best of my week. Think of this as a catch-up between friends with life hacks & advice sprinkled in. Grab your beverage of choice and let's get started ☕️
Highlight of the Week🔥
Sooo many highlights since we last chatted. Jean and I released episode 5 of the Tiger Sisters Podcast and the topic is how two newly single sisters are dealing with the dating world in Los Angeles. I don’t know if I’m surprised or offended that THIS episode is outperforming all of our other educational podcast episodes. Does this mean that you prefer lifestyle content over business school advice? I’m honestly not sure what to make of this! If you have any ideas, let me know via comments or email.
In this dating episode we dive into personal dating stories—revealing what it’s like to navigate relationships while balancing big tech, startups, and everything in between. We discuss what we look for in a partner, the pros and cons of dating ambitious people, and even share our top picks from this season’s Bachelorette. Whether you’re curious about dating coworkers, searching for the perfect match, or just here for the juicy stories, this episode is packed with insights and laughs.
WE’RE TRAVELING IN 2025 (yes, we!!)🗺️
Thank you to the 223 people who filled out the survey to TRAVEL TOGETHER. Yes, it’s in all caps because I am shouting from excitement. The #1 most requested place to visit is Japan. I’m still finalizing the details 👀
This trip would be intimate (< 20 people) and targeting spring time like May 2025. If you’re interested in joining Jean and me on a week-long trip, drop your email here: https://trovatrip.com/host/profiles/cherie-51ed7
I loved business school group trips; It’s an incredible experience when you put driven, smart, thoughtful people together who have shared interest in travel and exploration.
Hello Andreessen Horowitz, Santa Monica 🫡
Jean and I visited the new Andreessen Horowitz LA location to support their A16Z GAMES SPEEDRUN incubator program. SPEEDRUN is investing and growing 40 new startups in various sectors like gaming and tech. Jean hosted a coaching session and provided advice from a "friendly investor" and product exec perspective for founders in this cohort. Thanks Joshua Lu and Andrew Lee for having us!
I also ran into my GSB classmate Colin Campbell. He's investing in early-stage (seed, series A, series B) gaming and AI companies. If you're building in this space, reach out to him and follow him on X🕺
a16z SPEEDRUN applications opened today for their next cohort. If you got a good idea and want 750K in funding, you can apply here: https://sr.a16z.com/
We Spent $500K on MBAs: Worth It? Episode 6
In this episode, we’re diving into whether dropping $500K on Harvard and Stanford MBAs was worth it. I share how the MBA boosted my confidence and we break down how knowing "enough to be dangerous” gives you an edge in life. We chat about the value of knowing the lingo in any field, how real estate classes could turn us into future Tiger Tycoons, and how improv skills apply to business. Plus, Jean reflects on whether she should’ve gone to startup school instead.
PS: I’ve seen comments about people wanting access to Tiger Sisters on Apple podcasts — I’m trying to publish there! I’m troubleshooting some issues. I see you and I hear you! I’m trying my best to get our next few podcast episodes available. If you have any experience with Apple podcasts uploading, please help!!!
I Published a Forbes Article on Cucumbers ✅
Can’t find cucumbers in the supermarket this summer? That might be because of Logan Moffitt (@logansfewd), a 23-year-old content creator whose cucumber salad recipes have swept the nation, with some of his videos racking up nearly 30 million views. To put this into perspective, Logan’s cucumber trend of Aug. 2024 is to Emily Mariko’s iconic salmon bowl trend of Aug. 2021. Yes, it’s that big of a deal.
In this article, I talk about the 3-step recipe on how to make viral videos and what we can learn from Logan Moffitt and Emily Mariko’s strategies.
You can read the full article here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/cherieluo/2024/08/20/a-refreshing-recipe-for-social-media-virality-what-can-we-learn/
In Case You Missed It: What I posted on IG 💅🏻
Meme Reminder
I hope you have the best week!
XO, Cherie